Violation Detail
Standard Cited: 5A0001 OSH Act General Duty Paragraph
Inspection Nr: 964263.015
Citation: 01001
Citation Type: Serious
Abatement Date: 03/20/2015 2
Initial Penalty: $6,300.00
Current Penalty: $6,300.00
Issuance Date: 07/09/2014
Nr Instances: 1
Nr Exposed: 10
Related Event Code (REC): A
Gravity: 10
Report ID: 0728900
Contest Date: 07/15/2014
Final Order: 03/09/2015
Emphasis:
Substance: 0170
| Type | Latest Event | Event Date | Penalty | Abatement Due Date | Citation Type | Failure to Abate Inspection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penalty | F: Formal Settlement | 03/09/2015 | $6,300.00 | 03/20/2015 | Serious | |
| Penalty | C: Contested | 07/28/2014 | $6,300.00 | 11/20/2014 | Serious | |
| Penalty | Z: Issued | 07/09/2014 | $6,300.00 | 11/20/2014 | Serious |
Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard:
OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to severe burns, lacerations, and pulmonary edema from anhydrous ammonia not properly controlled by the ammonia storage and transfer system. The ammonia control system was not designed to prevent anhydrous ammonia from entering or leaving the process at an unintended time, rate, or path. Midwest Farmers Cooperative, 600 South 10th St., Tecumseh, NE - March 20, 2014 - A bleeder valve was left open during transport truck anhydrous ammonia delivery, causing a large amount of ammonia to enter and violently rupture an aluminum caged plastic IBC tote filled with water. The IBC tote rupture released ammonia and the delivery driver suffered fatal injuries and other workers, including a facility employee, a responding deputy sheriff, and a railroad worker required treatment for ammonia exposure. AMONG OTHER METHODS, FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE METHODS TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD ARE: 1) Properly design storage and transfer system controls that prevent anhydrous ammonia from entering or leaving the process at an unintended time, rate or path per NFPA 400 (2013) Hazardous Materials Code - 6.1.4.2.2 as adopted by Nebraska State Fire Marshal per NAC 477.281. 2) Design and install system controls that prevent ammonia from entering the water container during the truck transport unloading operation such as installing a "deadman" type bleeder valve. 3) Design and install a water container to capture remaining ammonia, after the completion of the ammonia transfer operation, that does not allow the accumulation of pressure, such as an open top tank. 4) Develop detailed site specific standard operating procedures, regarding the safe handling of anhydrous ammonia during all procedures, including the proper position of all system valves. 5) Ensure all employees that engage in the handling of anhydrous ammonia are thoroughly trained and retrained periodically on each location's standard operating procedures for the safe handling of anhydrous ammonia.
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